After World War I, the Transylvanian Hangya Cooperative, then in a state of recovery, opened its first branch office in Oradea, on Körös Street, next to the Lutheran church. From there, it supplied small shops in the regions of Țara Călatei, Țara Ierului / Valea Ierului, Satu Mare, and Maramureș. If you have any photos or memories of this building, please share them with us!
Thanks to growing sales, Hangya was able to build its own premises in 1938. They acquired a plot of land in the rural suburb of Ioșia (Ősi). Dénes Győrfi describes the building at 1 Aurel Vlaicu Street as follows:
“One side of the property facing the two streets is 42 meters long, the other is 34 meters. There was a separate entrance on both streets for arriving and departing cooperative members. The building had two offices and four storage rooms: for haberdashery, spices, bottled drinks, and confectionery. The iron department, along with oil, paint, and soda products, was located in the bright basement. The entire attic was filled with glassware. In the courtyard, there were apartments for the manager and janitor, as well as a separate, triple-division shed for trucks, salt storage, brooms, iron bars, and packing crates.”
(Source: https://adatbank.ro/html/alcim_pdf2618.pdf)
Have any old photos or memories of the building? Please share them with us!
The project Memoria Națiunilor (Memory of Nations) is being implemented under the INTERREG VI-A Romania–Hungary Programme, with the support of the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, and co-financed by Romania and Hungary.